Qilian Huaji decoction exerts an anti-cancer effect on hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating miR-122

Abstract

Qilian Huaji Decoction (QLHJD) is a mixture of 13 herbs. The aim of this study is to observe the efficacy of QLHJD against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The H22 transplanted mouse models were established to explore the effect of QLHJD on HCC in vivo. QLHJD-containing serum (QCS) was prepared using traditional Chinese medicine serum pharmacology methods. After QCS treatment, cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis in HepG2 cells were assessed by MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. miRNA expression profiles were determined using qPCR arrays. miR-122 was examined by qPCR in HCC tissue samples and cells. AKT3 protein expression was detected by Western blot. We found that QLHJD significantly inhibited the growth of H22 tumor and improve immune function in vivo. In vitro, QLHJD inhibited proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest at the S phase, and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The miRNA expression profiles were altered and the reduced miR-122 levels in HepG2 cell lines were up-regulated compared with control group, accompanied by a decrease in WNT1 expression. In conclusion, QLHJD could inhibit the growth of HCC by restoring the aberrant expression of miR-122, which may be one of the mechanisms whereby QLHJD exerts its effect on HCC.

Auricularia auricula Peptides Nutritional Supplementation Delays H2O2-Induced Senescence of HepG2 Cells by Modulation of MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathways

“…As one of the three commonly used cell lines for anti-aging studies, HepG2 is a welldifferentiated transformed cell line with good characteristics, which is reliable, easy to cultivate, and widely used in biochemical and nutritional research [29,30]. HepG2 cells have a stronger steady-state antioxidant defense activity than hepatocytes and other nontransgenic cells, and it is easier to detect changes in response to different conditions.…”